There's a distinct difference between
commercial cattlemen and those who raise registered cattle. The biggest
contrast is purebred people dress differently and use after shave. Go to
a fancy hotel at the same time purebred breeders are holding their
annual convention and you won't know if you're at a Fortune 500
shareholders meeting, a banker's confab, a slot tournament or a
gambler's anonymous retreat. If you go to a cowboy convention you'll
know it immediately when you're locked up in a hotel elevator and detect
a musty, cowy smell.
Purebred
breeders are less apt to wear cowboy hats. Either they have enough hair
to go hatless or they wear a ball cap with the name of a famous bull you
never heard of sewn on it. While some breeders can look good in a
cowboy hat you rarely see a Stetson in photos of the Angus Board of
Directors. I can only assume they have a dress code. Purebred breeders
can also be recognized by their feet. Often they wear wingtips, soft
shoes or footwear more often seen on a yacht. Purebred sale managers
especially seem to eschew cowboy hats and boots.
Registered
breeders are more into technology and keep records on their cell
phones, whereas a commercial cattlemen keeps his info in a tally book,
on a market card or a barn door. Papered people write with a pen,
regular ranchers with a pencil. Registered breeders LOVE data and use a
spreadsheet to find their best cattle. Regular ranchers can tell just by
looking. Purebred people often look like they're talking to themselves
but they're just talking to someone called Bluetooth. (I don't know who
this Bluetooth person is.) Purebred cattlemen usually tweet, have the
newest I phone with an irritating ring tone, and a Facebook page.
Commercial cattlemen have an old flip phone that doesn't work WELL
because it's been dropped down one too many times.
Purebred
people drive newer Yukons, Tahoes or Expeditions that they write off
and use for showing guests their herd. Regular ranchers more often drive
a Dodge Ram, Chevy 1500 or F 250. The year of their truck coincides
with the last good market. Purebred breeders drive golf carts while
unregistered ranchers drive ATV's and Quarter Horses. A rope dangles
from their saddle. If a purebred breeder catches his hired-hand roping
the registered stock he'll soon be unemployed.
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